Knowledge, attitudes, and organ donor registration among medical and health sciences students: A cross-sectional study in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE

Background Healthcare students serve as frontline ambassadors in promoting public awareness and shaping attitudes toward organ donation. This study assessed knowledge, attitudes, and organ donor registration among university students in Ras Al Khaimah, UAE, and identified factors associated with organ donor registration. Methods A cross-sectional study was conducted among undergraduate health sciences students using a structured self-administered questionnaire to collect data on sociodemographic characteristics, knowledge of organ donation and transplantation, attitudes, and donor registration status. Results The study included 428 students. The mean knowledge score was 7.77 ± 2.85 out of 19, indicating gaps in understanding of the definition of brain death, donor eligibility, and legal requirements. The mean attitude score was 41.58 ± 6.61 out of 65, suggesting generally positive attitudes towards organ donation, although concerns regarding organ misuse, body disfigurement, lack of trust, and fear of reduced quality of medical care were reported. Only 28.0% of participants were registered as organ donors, with a lack of awareness (39.0%) being the most frequently reported barrier among non-registered students. In multivariable logistic regression analysis, non-Arab students had lower adjusted odds of registration than Arab students, including Emiratis (aOR = 0.149, 95% CI: 0.072–0.310, p < 0.001). Compared with medical students, pharmacy (aOR = 0.050), dentistry (aOR = 0.032), and nursing students (aOR = 0.024) had significantly lower adjusted odds of registration (all p < 0.001). Students with a medical parental educational background also had lower adjusted odds of registration than those with a non-medical parental background (aOR = 0.129, 95% CI: 0.063–0.264, p < 0.001). Knowledge and attitude scores were not significantly associated with registration. Conclusion Despite generally positive reported attitudes toward organ donation, self-reported donor registration remained low, highlighting a discrepancy between stated willingness and registration behavior. Educational and awareness initiatives should address knowledge gaps, misconceptions, trust-related concerns, and perceived barriers to registration.